Bethlehem rules Lehigh student home fire accidental

A candle ignited the blaze

Firefighters from the City of Bethlehem responded to a two-alarm fire at… (Special to The Morning Call,…)

December 04, 2012|By Nicole Radzievich", Of The Morning Call

The south Bethlehem fire that sent a Lehigh University student to the hospital was started by accidentally by a candle, city fire officials said Tuesday.

The fire ignited at 1:55 a.m. Nov. 27 at 447 Montclair Ave. at the off-campus home and the five students inside were woken up by smoke detectors, officials said.

Andrew Douglas, 22, was taken to the hospital and treated for burns on his upper torso and hands and was released Saturday, said Deputy Chief Robert Novatnack. Douglas is home with his parents recovering, Novatnack said.

He said one student, who initially heard the smoke detector on the third-floor, had sustained a leg injury and smoke inhalation while evacuating.

"The smoke detectors saved their lives," Novatnack said. "There is no question about it."

Novatnack said the rental unit is uninhabitable.

Also evacuated were four people living the other half of the double home and six living on a nearby home where the roof sustained fire damage. The residents of both those buildings have been allowed to return, Novatnack said.

The four living in the other half of the double have been allowed back into the home, he said.